Answered3 years ago
What should I know about entry and visa overstays at the Nong Khai border crossing to Thailand?
ATTENTION ALL MEMBERS:
Re; Lao Border Points
There was a train-wreck of a post (now thankfully deleted) the other night about someone who was denied entry into thailand at the Nong Khai border crossing <-(hands down the EASIEST border crossing in all of thailand to get IN to the country by)
And it seems every Tom, Dick & Somchai poser :O errr poster had to weigh in with their 2 satang's worth of info on what to do.
I want to clear up ANY misunderstanding.
There is ABSO-tively, POSI-lutely ZERO problem with ANY border crossing with Lao and you don't need a service to bounce you out and back with them AT ALL.
It appears the whole story was not related in the thread :O The O/P entered the country and was mistakenly stamped in for 60 days NOT the 30 days they would get on a visa exempt entry.
They foolishly thought that if immigration makes a mistake the stamp is good <- IT IS NOT.
They stayed the full 60 days then went to fly out. When they stamped out they were found to NOT have held a tourist visa but had really entered visa exempt and been stamped in wrong. The fact they didn't correct it <- meant they were now on a 30 day overstay.. Graciously the people at passport control didn't fine them the 15K baht overstay. They did get the overstay stamp though.
AND
when they went to re-enter at the Nong Khai border I think passport control saw the overstay stamp and said, you just overstayed a month you can't get in by land and turned them back to Lao.
Eventually they did get in but it took another day..
This was 100% a problem of their own making, they got stamped in wrong, they didn't go correct it <- Once again people, it is YOUR passport so YOUR responsibility to get errant stamps corrected,
IF you get stamped in for longer than you should you DO NOT get to stay that extra time because immigrations 'messed up'..
You'll get tagged for overstay because you 'messed up' not going to get that stamp corrected.
CHECK your stamp before you walk away from passport control.
I just wanted to let everyone know, despite that thread about the denial at Nong Khai
THERE IS NO ISSUE AT ALL WITH ANY OF THE LAO BORDER POINTS AS FAR AS PEOPLE GETTING OUT AND BACK IN.
Re; Lao Border Points
There was a train-wreck of a post (now thankfully deleted) the other night about someone who was denied entry into thailand at the Nong Khai border crossing <-(hands down the EASIEST border crossing in all of thailand to get IN to the country by)
And it seems every Tom, Dick & Somchai poser :O errr poster had to weigh in with their 2 satang's worth of info on what to do.
I want to clear up ANY misunderstanding.
There is ABSO-tively, POSI-lutely ZERO problem with ANY border crossing with Lao and you don't need a service to bounce you out and back with them AT ALL.
It appears the whole story was not related in the thread :O The O/P entered the country and was mistakenly stamped in for 60 days NOT the 30 days they would get on a visa exempt entry.
They foolishly thought that if immigration makes a mistake the stamp is good <- IT IS NOT.
They stayed the full 60 days then went to fly out. When they stamped out they were found to NOT have held a tourist visa but had really entered visa exempt and been stamped in wrong. The fact they didn't correct it <- meant they were now on a 30 day overstay.. Graciously the people at passport control didn't fine them the 15K baht overstay. They did get the overstay stamp though.
AND
when they went to re-enter at the Nong Khai border I think passport control saw the overstay stamp and said, you just overstayed a month you can't get in by land and turned them back to Lao.
Eventually they did get in but it took another day..
This was 100% a problem of their own making, they got stamped in wrong, they didn't go correct it <- Once again people, it is YOUR passport so YOUR responsibility to get errant stamps corrected,
IF you get stamped in for longer than you should you DO NOT get to stay that extra time because immigrations 'messed up'..
You'll get tagged for overstay because you 'messed up' not going to get that stamp corrected.
CHECK your stamp before you walk away from passport control.
I just wanted to let everyone know, despite that thread about the denial at Nong Khai
THERE IS NO ISSUE AT ALL WITH ANY OF THE LAO BORDER POINTS AS FAR AS PEOPLE GETTING OUT AND BACK IN.
Answer summary
A recent discussion has clarified misconceptions regarding entry issues at the Nong Khai border with Laos. A person who overstayed their visa was denied re-entry due to an incorrect stamp at immigration. It was emphasized that it is crucial to check passport stamps carefully due to personal responsibility for one’s immigration status. Despite earlier claims of issues at Lao border points, the consensus is that there are no problems as long as travelers do not overstay. Travelers should be aware that overstays can lead to complications when attempting to re-enter Thailand.
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Alfred *****
Absolutely awesome! Thank you , Tod .. your posts have helped numerous people , and clarified many grey areas !
Tod *********
OPThat's what we're here for (y)
Knowledge is power, especially when it comes to entry/visa/extension stuff for thailand.
The more you people know about what's what, the better chance you'll have of furthering your stay here in the glorious "Land 'O Thaiz"
Knowledge is power, especially when it comes to entry/visa/extension stuff for thailand.
The more you people know about what's what, the better chance you'll have of furthering your stay here in the glorious "Land 'O Thaiz"
Felix ******
Good to hear, good work Tod
Paul *********
Thanks Tod, good man!
Tod *********
OPokay a good friend who accompanies people to the border a LOT, read this post and messaged me.
The story in my post wasn't that the person had used their 2 entries, they'd only used one land entry, and COULD (in theory at least) enter again visa exempt by land. It was the fact they were on an extended overstay. 😮
A Russian passport holder (who can bounce out and back all they want because they get in on a visa waiver entry not a visa exempt entry and aren't limited to two by land in a year) had an 80+ day overstay. They COULD leave thailand, clearing the overstay when they stamped out and get IN to Lao.
BUT
They couldn't get back in to thailand by land <- even though they have no limit to land entries. They were told to fly back 😮
It's the overstay that is hanging people up bouncing out and back with Lao ..
So the moral of the story is, DO NOT OVERSTAY and then try to bounce out and back by land with Lao or you might have issues.
The story in my post wasn't that the person had used their 2 entries, they'd only used one land entry, and COULD (in theory at least) enter again visa exempt by land. It was the fact they were on an extended overstay. 😮
A Russian passport holder (who can bounce out and back all they want because they get in on a visa waiver entry not a visa exempt entry and aren't limited to two by land in a year) had an 80+ day overstay. They COULD leave thailand, clearing the overstay when they stamped out and get IN to Lao.
BUT
They couldn't get back in to thailand by land <- even though they have no limit to land entries. They were told to fly back 😮
It's the overstay that is hanging people up bouncing out and back with Lao ..
So the moral of the story is, DO NOT OVERSTAY and then try to bounce out and back by land with Lao or you might have issues.
Brandon ************
@Tod ********
any idea if it's an overstay immediately before the bounce that's an issue, or any overstay, or at the discretion of the officer as usual?Tod *********
OP@Brandon ***********
it's the TIME of the overstay not that it was immediate or later, I "heard" that anything over a few days is gonna raise flags.Graham ******
@Brandon ***********
I was in Laos in January (Savannakhet>Mukdahan) with an old overstay (1 day) about 6 years ago, no questions on re-entry with my new Non-O.Tod *********
OP@Graham *****
6 years ago is ANCIENT history and you had a Non-O visa coming in, you weren't trying to come in free entry
Stephen ********
Thanks for the update
Anton *****************
So what happens if a person is not aware of how long they are supposed to get stamped in. Maybe they planned on staying only 2 weeks and never checked the finer details. Then something happened and they want to stay longer, check their passport and see they can stay until X date and then it ends up being their fault?
Brandon ************
@Anton ****************
ignorance of the law does not absolve you of the consequences of the law. The same world round.
Ellie *******
@Anton ****************
, sadly, it ends up being the passport holder's fault. As we repeatedly tell here, your passport, stamps and information on it are your responsibility.Graham ******
@Anton ****************
If they just turn up not knowing something that basic then I would question whether they should be travelling.
Robert *******
@Anton ****************
People need to do some research before they plan to go on holiday. I did not know and I did not check are nowhere in the world legitime answers for your behavior.Anton *****************
@Robert ******
Yeah, but like a I mentioned, there could be cases where you did do your research and then plans changed and you check the official stamp that was given and now that is your responsibility to double check what they gave you with what is online (which can also be a nightmare sometimes to find the correct info).
Robert **********
@Anton ****************
~ ignorance of the law is never an excuse ~ in any jurisdiction.Robert *******
@Anton ****************
The check is at the airport or border checkpoint on arrival, not halfway your holiday when you decide that you actually live in Thailand. Wake up in the real world to avoid nightmares.
Kathy ********************
Thank you for that clarification. Now it makes sense
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